Vaterite (original) (raw)

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered

About VateriteHide

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Lustre:

Sub-Vitreous, Waxy

Name:

Named in honor of Heinrich August Vater [September 5, 1859 Bremen, Germany - February 10, 1930 Dresden, Germany], Professor of Mineralogy and Chemistry, Tharandt, Saxony (Germany). He was a pioneer in the areas of forest soil science, land evaluation, and forest fertilization.

A rare CaCO3 modification that is metastable below approx. 400°C. May be stabilised by sulphate (Fernández-Díaz et al., 2010).

Vaterite is actually composed of at least two different crystallographic structures that coexist within a pseudo–single crystal. The major structure (actually substructure) exhibits hexagonal symmetry; the minor structure, existing as nanodomains within the major matrix, is still unknown (Kabalah-Amitai et al., 2013). However, as suggested by Christy (2017) in his review, the most plausible polytypes to describe the structure, namely the 2_M_ and 6_H_ ones, actually "do not occur in their highest-symmetry forms", but are described by the space groups _C_121 and _P_3221, respectively.

The structure is disordered in terms of (1) different orientations of the carbonate groups, (2) different stacking sequences of the carbonate-comprising layers, and (3) possible chiral forms (Demichelis et al., 2013). The OD character leads to polytypism; the OD layer comprises Ca coordination polyhedra and halves of the carbonate groups, and the group symmetry of the layer is _C_2/m; the known stacking sequences include: _P_6122, _P_6522, _C_2/c, _C_2/_c_2/_m_21/m, and _P_312 or _P_322. The type of the OD layering is similar to those observed in bastnäsite-synchysite polysomatic series (Makovicky, 2016).

Not uncommon as a biomineral (other sources: rarely used in hard tissue). Exists in fish otoliths. As such, it is formed from the precursor - Unnamed (Amorphous Calcium Carbonate) - via dehydration (Bots et al., 2012), the transformation process being inhibited in the presence of PO43- ions (Sugiura et al., 2016). Further dissolution-reprecipitation turns vaterite into calcite. Vaterite/calcite precipitates are known in the Cladosporium fungus, too (Ye et al., 2023).

May comprise a series with bästnasite group, known as bästnasite-vaterite homologous series.

Unique IdentifiersHide

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Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:4161:0

63facd26-2fc7-4d0e-b1f1-ded8df6e92d4

IMA Classification of VateriteHide

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Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

Classification of VateriteHide

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5.AB.20

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates

14.1.2.1

14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)

11.4.3

11 : Carbonates
4 : Carbonates of Ca

Mineral SymbolsHide

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As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.

Physical Properties of VateriteHide

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Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven, Splintery

Density:

2.645 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.645 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of VateriteHide

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RI values:

_n_ω = 1.550 _n_ε = 1.650

δ = 0.100

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Optical Extinction:

Parallel

Chemistry of VateriteHide

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Crystallography of VateriteHide

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Class (H-M):

6/m m m _(_6/_m_2/_m_2/m ) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal

Cell Parameters:

a = 4.13 Å, c = 8.49 Å

Unit Cell V:

125.41 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Thin fibers, spherulitic aggregates.

Comment:

Wang, J.W. & Becker, U. (2009): Structure and carbonate orientation of vaterite (CaCO3). Am. Mineral. 94, 380-386. Important note: Christy (2017) actually suggests, that the correct space groups to describe the polytypes constituting the vaterite crystals are C121 (monoclinic crystal system) and P3221 (trigonal crystal system)

Crystal StructureHide

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ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0004854	Vaterite	Wang J, Becker U (2009) Structure and carbonate orientation of vaterite (CaCO3) American Mineralogist 94 380-386		2009	theoretical	0	293
0009279	Vaterite	Kamhi S R (1963) On the structure of vaterite, CaCO3 Acta Crystallographica 16 770-772		1963	Synthetic, preferred structure model	0	293
0019139	Vaterite	Meyer H J (1959) Uber Vaterit und seine Struktur Angewandte Chemie 71 678-679	1959	0	293
0019869	Vaterite	Demichelis R, Raiteri P, Gale J D, Dovesi R (2012) A new structural model for disorder in vaterite from first-principles calculations CrystEngComm 14 44-47	2012	theoretical	0	293
0019870	Vaterite	Demichelis R, Raiteri P, Gale J D, Dovesi R (2012) A new structural model for disorder in vaterite from first-principles calculations CrystEngComm 14 44-47	2012	theoretical	0	293
0019871	Vaterite	Demichelis R, Raiteri P, Gale J D, Dovesi R (2012) A new structural model for disorder in vaterite from first-principles calculations CrystEngComm 14 44-47	2012	theoretical	0	293
0019872	Vaterite	Demichelis R, Raiteri P, Gale J D, Dovesi R (2012) A new structural model for disorder in vaterite from first-principles calculations CrystEngComm 14 44-47	2012	theoretical	0	293
0019865	Vaterite	Demichelis R, Raiteri P, Gale J D, Dovesi R (2013) The multiple structures of vaterite Crystal Growth & Design 13 2247-2251	2013	theoretical	0	293
0019866	Vaterite	Demichelis R, Raiteri P, Gale J D, Dovesi R (2013) The multiple structures of vaterite Crystal Growth & Design 13 2247-2251	2013	theoretical	0	293
0019867	Vaterite	Demichelis R, Raiteri P, Gale J D, Dovesi R (2013) The multiple structures of vaterite Crystal Growth & Design 13 2247-2251	2013	theoretical	0	293
0019868	Vaterite	Demichelis R, Raiteri P, Gale J D, Dovesi R (2013) The multiple structures of vaterite Crystal Growth & Design 13 2247-2251	2013	theoretical	0	293
0019019	Vaterite	Le Bail A, Ouhenia S, Chateigner D (2011) Microtwinning hypothesis for a more ordered vaterite model Powder Diffraction 26 16-21	2011	synthetic	0	293
0019140	Vaterite	Le Bail A, Ouhenia S, Chateigner D (2011) Microtwinning hypothesis for a more ordered vaterite model Powder Diffraction 26 16-21	2011	synthetic	0	293
0019141	Vaterite	Le Bail A, Ouhenia S, Chateigner D (2011) Microtwinning hypothesis for a more ordered vaterite model Powder Diffraction 26 16-21	2011	synthetic	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

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Powder Diffraction Data:

Comments:

See also 33-268; 13-192 (synthetic)

Geological EnvironmentHide

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Synonyms of VateriteHide

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Other Language Names for VateriteHide

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Relationship of Vaterite to other SpeciesHide

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Common AssociatesHide

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Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

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Fluorescence of VateriteHide

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Other InformationHide

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Thermal Behaviour:

Dry crystals convert to calcite when heated to about 440°.

Notes:

Converts to aragonite or calcite when boiled in water. Converts to calcite when boiled in NaCl solution.

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for VateriteHide

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References for VateriteHide

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Reference List:

Keykha, H.A., Zangani, A., Romiani, H.M., Asadi, A., Kawasaki, S., Radmanesh, N. (2023): Characterizing Microbial and CO2-Induced Carbonate Minerals: Implications for Soil Stabilization in Sandy Environments. Minerals, 13, 976.

**Palache, Charles, Berman, Harry, Frondel, Clifford (1951) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 2 - Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Ect. John Wiley and Sons, New York.**pp.181-182

Pouget, Emilie M., Bomans, Paul H. H., Dey, Archan, Frederik, Peter M., de With, Gijsbertus, Sommerdijk, Nico A. J. M. (2010) The Development of Morphology and Structure in Hexagonal Vaterite. Journal of the American Chemical Society: 132: 11560–11565.

Wehrmeister, U., Soldati, A.L., Jacob, D., Häger, T., Hofmeister, W. (2010) Raman spectroscopy of synthetic, geological and biological vaterite: a Raman spectroscopic study. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy: 41: 193-201.

Mugnaioli, E., Andrusenko, I., Schüler, T., Loges, N., Dinnebier, R.E., Panthöfer, M., Tremel, W., Kolb, U. (2012) Ab initio structure determination of vaterite by automated electron diffraction. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 51(28), 7041-7045.

Kabalah-Amitai, L., Mayzel, B., Kauffmann, Y., Fitch, A. N., Bloch, L., Gilbert, P. U. P. A., Pokroy, B. (2013) Vaterite Crystals Contain Two Interspersed Crystal Structures. Science, 340 (6131). 454-457 doi:10.1126/science.1232139

Localities for VateriteHide

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This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

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- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. - Good crystals or important locality for species. - World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.